Seminar: Topics in the Foundations of Relativistic Quantum Mechanics and Quantum Field Theory
LPS 241Q = Phil 241Q
 
This will be an extremely informal seminar in which we consider a number of topics concerning the foundations of relativistic quantum mechanics (RQM) and relativistic quantum field theory (RQFT). In both cases, we will deal, primarily, with algebraic formulations of the theory. A tentative list of  topics, with suggested readings, is given below. The seminar will be co-led by Miklós Rédei,who is visiting LPS from Budapest during the Winter and Spring quarters (2003).

It will be expected that participants are familiar with the basic mathematical formalism of (ordinary) quantum mechanics and special relativity. But prior study of RQM or RQFT will not be assumed.  

Time and Place:  Wednesday, 3:00-5:50;  Social Science Tower (SST) 777. The first meeting will be on April 2nd (2003). (Those interested in the seminar who cannot attend the first meeting should contact the instructor by email.)

Instructor: David Malament, SST 757, 824-7374. I can be reached, most reliably, by e-mail:  dmalamen@uci.edu . Office hours: to be arranged.
 
Requirements: Auditors are welcome. Registered students who want a grade (other than 'S')  will be asked to write a paper.   
 

Tentative Schedule With Readings

Note: In some cases, the indicated links are to commercial archives to which UC Irvine (and many other educational institiutions) subscribe. Proper affiliation may be required for download privileges. 
 

Weeks 1 and 2 (April 2nd and 9th):    Particle  Non-Localizability in Relativistic Quantum Mechanics
        (discussion led by David Malament)

  1. David Malament, "In Defense of Dogma -- Why There Cannot Be a Relativistic Quantum Mechanical Theory of (Localizable) Particles", in Rob Clifton (ed.), Perspectives on Quantum Reality, Kluwer, 1996.
            [eprint]

  2. Hans Halvorson and Rob Clifton, “No Place for Particles in Relativistic QuantumTheories?, Philosophy of Science, volume 69, March 2002, 1-28.
            [eprint  from Phil Science archive]


Weeks 3 and 4 (April 16th and 23rd):  Preparatory Mathematics
        (discussion led by Miklós Rédei)

                chapter 6 in Miklós Rédei,  Quantum Logic in Algebraic Approach, Kluwer 1998.
                            [to be distributed]


Week 5 (April 30):  The Mathematical Formalism of Algebraic Quantum Field Theory (AQFT)
        (discussion led by Miklós Rédei)

                section 10.1 in Miklós Rédei,  Quantum Logic in Algebraic Approach, Kluwer 1998.
                            [to be distributed]


Week 6 (May 7th):  no meeting


Week  7 (May 14th)   EPR and Bell Type Correlations in Algebraic Quantum Field Theory
        (discussion led by David Malament)

    1. Miklós Rédei, Quantum Logic in Algebraic Approach,  sections 10.2-10.5. 
              [to be distributed]

    2. Michael Redhead, “More Ado About Nothing”, Foundations of Physics, volume 25, January 1995, 123-137.
              [to be distributed]

    3. Michael Redhead and Fabian Wagner, “Unified Treatment of EPR and Bell Arguments in Algebraic Quantum Field  Theory”, Foundations of Physics Letters, volume 11, 1998, 111-125.
              [preprint version from the LANL archive] 

    4. Hans Halvorson and Rob Clifton, “Generic Bell Correlation Between Arbitrary Local Algebras in Quantum Field Theory”, Journal of Mathematical Physics, volume 41, April 2000, 1711-1717.
              [eprint from J Math Phys archive]

Week  8 (May 21st):  The Common Cause Principle and AQFT
        (discussion led by Miklós Rédei)

  1. Miklós Rédei, Quantum Logic in Algebraic Approach,  chapter 12
            [to be distributed]

  2. Miklós Rédei and Stephen Summers, “Local Primitive Causality and the Common Cause Principle”, Foundations of Physics, volume 32, March 2002, 335 - 555.
            [eprint from Fnds of Physics archive; click on March 2002 issue]

  3. Miklós Rédei, "Reichenbach's Common Cause Principle and Quantum Correlations" in T. Placek and J. Butterfield (eds.),  Modality, Probability and Bell's Theorems, NATO Science Series, II. volume 64,  Kluwer,  2002, 259 - 227.
            [preprint version made available by author]


Weeks 9 and 10 (May 28th and June 4th)  Relativity and the Quantum Measurement Problem
        (discussion led by Jeff Barrett and Brian Woodcock)

    1. Jeff Barrett, “On the Nature of Measurement Records in Quantum Field Theory”, forthcoming in M. Kuhlmann, H. Lyre, and A. Wayne (eds.), Ontological Aspects of Relativistic Quantum Field Theory,  World Scientific Publishing Co.
              [eprint made available by author]

    2. Tim Maudlin, "Space-Time in the Quantum World", in James T. Cushing, A. Fine, and S. Goldstein (eds.), Bohmian Mechanics and Quantum Theory: An Appraisal, Kluwer, 1996, 285-307.
              [to be distributed]

    3. Wayne Myrvold, "On Peaceful Coexistence: Is the Collapse Postulate Incompatible with Relativity?", Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics, volume 33, September 2002, 435-466.
      Kluwer,  2002, 259 - 227.
              [eprint from journal archive]